How to Apply for WIC in California

What is a WIC Program? 

A WIC program is a supplemental nutrition program that is created for the benefit of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). It is a federally-funded health and nutrition program that provides nutritional services and food supplements to low-to-moderate income families.

The WIC program provides families with the following services: 

• Nutrition education
• Breastfeeding support
• Healthy foods from WIC approved grocery stores
• Referrals to healthcare and other community services 

What Does WIC Provide

The WIC program is available to anyone who lives in California and meets the program guidelines. Families can receive help regardless of their immigration status as long as they live in California. For availing families, some of the benefits you can get when you apply to the program include: 

• Obtaining information about nutrition and a healthy lifestyle 

• Getting support and information about breastfeeding your baby
• Receiving help in finding health care and other essential community services
• Getting special checks to buy healthy foods from WIC-approved grocery stores – such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, soy milk, tofu, milk, eggs, bread, cereal, juice, peanut butter, and much more. You can see the list of authorized foods here. 

Do You Qualify?

Those who want to participate in the program must meet the income requirements and should be: 

• A pregnant woman 
• A woman breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age
• A woman who had a baby in the past six months
• A guardian who is the sole provider of a child under age five
• A woman who has an infant  up to their first birthday 
• A woman who has a child up to their fifth birthday

If you have been rejected by other programs, you may still be eligible for the WIC program. Or if you or another family member is receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) you automatically become eligible for WIC.

If you’re receiving Medi-Cal, CalFresh (Food Stamps), CalWORKs, and/or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), you automatically meet the WIC income requirements regardless of your actual gross income.  

If you want to learn whether or not you are eligible for the WIC program, you can contact Children’s Medical Centers of Fresno. They provide quality healthcare to children of the Central Valley. They will help provide information on what you will need to enroll in the program. Schedule an appointment today!